Spratt 'pleaded guilty without advice'
A lawyer for unlawful tasering victim Kevin Spratt has asked that the 44-year-old's plea of guilty to cannabis and weapon charges not trigger a conviction until it was reviewed by his defence team.
Mr Spratt watched via videolink from Hakea Prison as his lawyer told the Perth Magistrate's Court that her client had sent in the pleas without the advice of a lawyer.
"Our client has signed the guilty pleas without legal advice," Rachel Mounsey said, explaining that the defence team became aware of the signed pleas only this morning.
Ms Mounsey asked that the pleas not be withdrawn but that the court hold off on recoding a conviction until lawyers had a chance to review the matter.
The pleas related to a charge of cannabis possession and a charge of possessing a controlled weapon and stem from the same period in late January in which Mr Spratt is alleged to have had a violent outburst during which he is accused of assaulting public officers.
The alleged outburst occurred within days of a trial into his unlawful tasering by WA police.
The unlawful tasering at the perth Watch House in 2008 was captured on CCTV and was subject to a Corruption and Crime Commission investigation and widespread publicity before two officers were last month convicted and handed suspended jail terms for their actions.
Mr Spratt's defence team has previously told the court that the trial had taken a toll on Mr Spratt, who was given a psychological assessment following the recent charges against hime being laid.
Today, Mr Spratt appeared calm and indicated he understood what had happened in the morning's proceedings.
He was remanded in custody and all his matters, including his other charges stemming from the alleged outburst, were adjourned to May 2.
